Arjen Robben avoids punishment after owning up about dive in Mexico game

BAYERN Munich winger apologises after game for taking a tumble and FIFA confirm no action will be taken.

ARJEN ROBBEN has escaped punishment from FIFA after he admitted diving during Holland’s late win over Mexico.

The 30-year-old is adamant he did not cheat to win a decisive injury-time spot-kick in their 2-1 win over the Mexicans on Sunday.

Robben was taken down by Rafael Marquez for the deciding penalty and insisted after the match it was definitely a foul.

However, he made headlines across the world by confessing to going to ground easily earlier in the match.

The Bayern Munich winger apologised immediately after the game for taking a tumble and did so again at a press conference in Rio de Janeiro yesterday, just hours after FIFA confirmed no action would be taken against him.

FIFA head of media Delia Fischer revealed the disciplinary committee would only look retrospectively at serious infringements of fair play rules.

She said: “We ask players to play in the spirit of fair play. It is up to the referees to manage the match in all areas and they are trained to identify simulations and issue cards to discourage this behaviour.”

Asked if he thought he would be sanctioned, Robben said: “No, not at all.

“It’s a shame because yesterday in an interview after the game I was very honest. Maybe sometimes you are punished for honesty but I always prefer to tell the truth.

“I said there was one foul in the first half where I went to the ground because I thought he would tackle me but he took his leg away at the last moment and I went to the ground without a touch.

“It was a stupid action from me but it had no influence on the game and had nothing to do with the penalty kick.

“In the first half we should have had a penalty and the one at the end was a clear foul.

“It is a shame there is so much discussion because we put on a great performance as a team. I like to be honest and I apologise for this action in the first half.”

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